NBA: Lakers, league wait on Dwight Howard

In this Jan. 25, 2013 file photo, Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard dunks during the first half of their NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, in Los Angeles. Howard announced on Friday, July 5, 2013 that he is leaving for the Houston Rockets.

The Lakers ended their two-hour meeting Tuesday with Dwight Howard without any assurances he'll stay, let alone when he'll make his decision on his free-agent options. He soon traveled to Aspen, Colo., where his agents Dan Fagen and Happy Walters will recap everything surrounding his visits this week with the Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks and Lakers.

"Great meetings with @DwightHoward," Walters tweeted on Wednesday. "Group Going 2 get some mountain air to clear the mind and make some decisions."

Howard plans to sign his contract on July 10, the first day free agents can do so. But it's possible he could alert which team he'd play for before that, perhaps as early as Friday. Still, one source familiar with the Lakers' thinking expects it will be "several days" before Howard makes his decision.

The Lakers acted more swiftly, however, in removing a banner outside Staples Center asking Howard to stay.

A week ago, the team unveiled a banner on the side of Staples Center with a photo of Howard along with the message "STAY" and the hashtag "#STAYD12."

A Staples Center official said it initially was planned to have the banner atop the arena removed following the WNBA's Sparks-Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday. The six billboards around Los Angeles, including one in Hollywood, will be removed soon as well. A team source said the timing regarding the removal of the Staples Center banner and the billboards vary because they were all purchased at different times. The source explained the removal of the Staples Center banner coincided with the BET Awards.

Regardless, the Lakers believe the banner and billboards helped leading into and during Howard's free-agency meetings. The Lakers, more importantly, hope they had a more lasting effect on Howard in their two-hour meeting Tuesday at Relativity Sports, the sports agency that represents him.

The Lakers said little about their vast championship history (16 NBA titles) and storied franchise players (Magic Johnson, Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). Or that they could sign Howard to a five-year deal worth $118 million as opposed to a four-year deal worth $87.6 million with any other team.

"He has seen the championship banners every day in the facility and the retired jerseys," said a league source familiar with the details surrounding the meetings. "The Lakers know how Dwight feels about their past and legacy. They didn't want to go into that.

"Their concern to him was the present and future."

Aided by a personal iPad they gave Howard, the Lakers outlined various details they hope will appeal to the star center.

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak and vice president of player personnel Jim Buss outlined how the Lakers will have enough cap space for the 2014 offseason to bring them back to championship contention. Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Mike D'Antoni even addressed some of the uncomfortable issues surrounding Howard.

There are plenty.

Howard believed D'Antoni's system didn't feature him enough on offense. Howard grew frustrated with Bryant's demanding leadership style, including when he suggested he play better through his back and shoulder injuries. Howard never found the chemistry with Nash on pick-and-rolls that plenty of observers envisioned.

"Whatever needed to be said was said," a league source familiar with the discussions said. "It ended in a way where there was no ill will."

That's not all the Lakers discussed.

Representatives from Time Warner Cable SportsNet were there. As was Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns Staples Center, dozens of entertainment venues around the world and a minority share in the Lakers. According to another source familiar with the details, Time Warner Cable highlighted how their vast programming with pre- and post-game shows and "BackStage Lakers" are far more comprehensive than the traditional cable television networks that just broadcast the games. AEG also touted the marketing opportunities Howard would have working with them.

The only absent member included team governor Jeanie Buss, whom a source said declined to attend so her brother, Jim, could have time to address concerns. Accounts also describe Howard and Jeanie as close.

But will all that be enough to convince him to stay with the Lakers?

Those close to Howard said he's solely motivated by which team will best help him win an NBA championship.

No one knows for sure which team fits that category. For the Lakers, all they can do is wait.